Principal Software Engineer, Advanced Analytics Platform

Toast is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to lead the development of its advanced data platform, which powers analytics and AI/ML capabilities for the restaurant industry. The role involves defining technical strategy, architecture, and building scalable, resilient systems.

Location: Remote (US)

Salary: $230,000—$368,000 USD

Responsibilities

• Design, build, deploy, and maintain highly resilient and scalable systems critical to data success at Toast.
• Develop and execute technical strategies to solve complex business challenges using data-driven decisions.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships across business lines, aligning technical solutions with strategic goals.
• Mentor and guide engineers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, inclusivity, and engineering excellence.
• Communicate technical direction, guide teams through execution, and drive organizational quality practices.
• Diagnose performance bottlenecks and implement optimizations.
• Leverage cutting edge AI tools to enhance development workflow, improve velocity, and pioneer new approaches.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in software engineering with expertise in data platform or distributed systems engineering.
• Strong background in data lakehouse technologies (Apache Iceberg, Delta Lake, or similar), streaming infrastructure (Apache Kafka, Pulsar, or similar), and cloud-native data platforms (Databricks, AWS, or similar).
• Ability to deliver high-impact, scalable solutions in complex, multi-product environments.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with a track record of guiding teams through architectural transformations.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Passionate about driving innovation and continuously improving engineering practices.

Benefits

• Competitive salary range of $230,000—$368,000 USD depending on location and experience.
• Total rewards include cash compensation, equity, and benefits.
• Hybrid work model fostering in-person collaboration and flexibility.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Access to AI tools to support building and learning.

Additional Information

• The role is fully remote within the US.
• The salary range varies by geographic zone (Zone A: $230k–$368k, Zone B: $200k–$320k, Zone C: $180k–$288k).
• Toast emphasizes a culture of innovation, learning, and inclusivity.
• Applicants can request accommodations during the hiring process.